Insulating box toe for safety shoes



Dec. 3, 1957 1.. 'r. HILL 2,814,888

INSULATING BOX TOE FOR SAFETY SHOES Original Filed March 11, 1955 Unitedrates Patent INSULATING BOX TOE FOR SAFETY SHOES Lawson T. Hill, Weston,Mass, assignor to Hill Bros. Co., Hudson, Mass, a corporation ofMassachusetts Original application March 11, 1955, Serial No. 493,753,

new Patent No. 2,756,519, dated July 31, 1956. Divided and thisapplication May 8, 1956, Serial No. 583,446

2 Claims. (CI. 36-77) This invention relates to safety shoes of the typehaving a steel reinforcing box in the toe, and pertains moreparticularly to a pad construction for enclosing, and cushioning theedge of, a steel toe box. This application is a division of my copendingapplication Serial No. 493,753, filed March 11, 1955, which has maturedinto Patent No. 2,756,519, granted July 31, 1956.

Safety shoes of the general type to which this invention pertains haveheretofore presented a rather awkward appearance due to the ridgecreated in the upper by the rear edge of the steel box. This edge alsohas a tendency to cut through the upper when the shoe is worn.Furthermore, the metal edge is likely to hurt the wearers foot and causeblisters. Another complaint frequently encountered is that the steel boxtransmits cold too rapidly and tends to chill the wearers toes. Anotherdifiiculty encountered in the use of a metal box toe in a shoe is thatthe lower edge of the box tends to cut the inseam stitchmg.

The general object of this invention is to overcome these difficultiesby providing a toe box assembly in which the metal box is effectivelyinsulated from the wearers foot, the rear edge of the metal box iscushioned on the inside, the usual depression immediately behind thisedge is filled in so as to achieve a smoother appearance of the upper,and the lower edge of the metal box is enclosed so that it is not incontact with the inseam. Other advantages and novel features of thedevice here disclosed will be apparent from the following description.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of the toe of a shoe having a boxassembly constructed according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the pad assemblybefore it is installed in the shoe.

The assembly is shown in Fig. 1 as installed in a shoe of the Goodyearwelt type having the usual upper and upper lining 11 secured to theinsole 12 by inseam stitching 13. A steel toe box 14 is enclosed in thetoe. Between the upper lining and the steel box is inserted a pad of thetype shown in Fig. 2. The pad consists of two pieces of pyroxylin 15 and16 of a shape and size generally corresponding to box 14, having rearmargins 17 and 18, respectively. A layer 19, of cork sheeting or similarmaterial, having good heat insulating properties, is disposed betweenthe two pyroxylin pads. A strip of foam rubber, or similar material, issecured to the rear margins 17 and 18 of the pads, for example by a lineof stitching 21, which passes also through layer 19. The pyroxylin padsare made somewhat larger than the steel box so as to overlap the loweredge of the latter when the parts are assembled together. The pads 15and 16, insulating layer 19, and strip 20 are inserted between box 14and the lining 11, preferably with the rear edges of pads 15 and 16approximately even with the rear edge of the box 14, and with the stripoverlapping the rear edge of the box 14. A cover 22 of thin pyroxylin,slightly larger all around than the box 14, is placed between the box 14and the upper 10. It is understood that the pads and cover are softenedwith suitable solvent and all the parts are formed over a last which maybe of the usual type, but is preferably of the type described in mycopeuding application Serial No. 493,651, filed March 11, 1955 nowissued as Patent No. 2,737,671, which last has a groove across theforepart to relieve pressure on the foam rubber strip. In lasting, thecork layer 19 becomes bonded to the two pyroxylin pads, pad 15 becomesbonded to the metal toe box, and pad 16 becomes bonded to the lining 11.The overlapping margins of the cover are bonded to the lower margins ofpad 15 so that the steel box is completely encased around its loweredge. This feature serves to prevent breaking of the needle by contactwith the box, during the inseaming operation and also protects theinseam stitching 13 against cutting by the edge of the box in subsequentwear. The rear margin of cover 22 is bonded to strip 17. The cover,being bonded to the upper, keeps the upper from creeping, thuspreserving the smooth appearance of the toe, and also prevents the rearedge of the box from cutting through the upper. The pad 15, being bondedto the lining 11, prevents wrinkling of the lining, and the spongerubber strip 17 cushions the rear edge of the steel box and also that ofthe pyroxylin pads 15 and 16 which become stiff when formed. The wearersfoot is thus protected against irritation by the stiff rear margin ofthe toe metal box assembly. It will be noted also that the spongematerial tends to fill in the gap behind the rear edge of the box andsmooths out the ridge which ordinarily appears in the upper at thispoint. The whole assembly thus produces a comfortable and smoothappearing forepart. The layer 19 provides extra heat insulation betweenthe metal box and the wearers foot and thus makes the shoe morecomfortable for cold weather.

What is claimed is:

1. A toe box assembly--adapted to be disposed in the vamp of a shoehaving a sole, an upper, and an upper liner-comprising: a metal toe box,having a lower edge adapted to be disposed adjacent said sole, and arear edge adapted to be disposed across said vamp; a first layer ofpyroxylin underlying said box and bonded thereto, a layer ofheat-insulating material underlying said first layer, a second layer ofpyroxylin underlying said heatinsulating layer, all said layers havingrear edges, and a strip of foam rubber attached under the rear edges ofsaid layers and extending behind the rear edges of said layers and ofsaid metal box, said strip adapted to substantially fill in any spacebetween the upper and the liner behind said rear edges.

2. A toe box assembly as described in claim 1, having a cover overlyingthe metal box, the cover and said first and second pyroxylin layershaving lower margins extending below the lower edge of the metal box andbonded together to enclose said lower edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS710,239 Beckwith Sept. 30, 1902 1,826,645 Bergquist Oct. 6, 19312,160,590 Guhman May 30, 1939 2,328,601 Baird Sept. 7, 1943 2,457,664Harrison Dec. 28, 1948 2,537,891 Greenan Jan. 9, 1951 2,706,351 GreenanApr. 19, 1955

